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Guilty Pleasure: What I Learned from Co-Writing with James Patterson

GUILTY WIVES, a novel I wrote with uber-bestseller James Patterson, is out this week. People have asked me what it’s like to write a book with Jim and I usually tell them something like this: “It’s great, a lot of fun. I’ve learned a lot and Jim’s an exceptionally nice and laid-back guy for all the success he’s received.”

All of that is true. Jim, I have to note, has been good to me all the way back to the first novel I wrote, LINE OF VISION, back in 2000. We didn’t know each other, but he was gracious enough to give me one of those coveted “blurbs” for the cover. I wrote him a little note of thanks and hoped that Jim really did like the book as much as he had claimed in the blurb. (Now that I know him better, I know that he never would have said it if he didn’t mean it.)

Anyway, when I was doing my tour of the New York bookstores that year, at least two of them said, “You’ll never guess who was just in here, talking about how great your book is.” Jim was already a big name back then, and I was floored that he would spend the time to spread the word about an unknown author like me. It told me two things about Jim: One, as savvy a businessman as he is, he is also a true enthusiast of books; and two, he’s a really nice guy.

Obviously, I was very excited to have the chance to write a book with Jim. I admit I was nervous, too. We have different styles. We both write thrillers but they’re different. And we talked about that up front. I recognized that, first and foremost, this was the James Patterson brand, and he was running the show. I said to him, “It might take me some time to figure out how to co-write a James Patterson novel.”

And I’ll never forget what he said to me. “We’re not writing a James Patterson novel. We’re writing a James Patterson and David Ellis novel.” That was about the nicest thing he could have said to me.

But make no mistake, GUILTY WIVES is right in line with the Patterson signature. It is fast. It is full of surprises and twists. It is scary and graphic and disturbing and gut-wrenching. At the right moments, it’s funny and sexy, too. I can honestly say I’ve never had more fun as a writer.

So what did I learn from co-writing with the king of bestsellers? I could go on for a long time, but all of the things I’ve learned could probably be distilled into a single sentence.

It’s all about the drama for the reader.

Readers want to go on a ride, so take them on one. They want to be entertained, so entertain them. They get boring and hum-drum all day long. When they open your book, they want sparks flying.

Does that sound like an obvious statement? Maybe so, but a lot of authors forget that simple charge. Jim Patterson doesn’t.

I always felt like Jim was doing more than collaborating with me on a novel. He was trying to teach me, too. And it was always about the reader. It’s not about winning writing awards (though he has won plenty). It’s not about how impressively you display all the research you’ve amassed. It’s not about the number of syllables in your flowery description. The only question is, how will the reader respond? If it heightens the drama for the reader—because it makes you love the protagonist or hate the villain; because it scares the shit out of you; because it tears at your heart; because it turns your expectations upside down—then it belongs in the book.

Jim always preaches, never miss an every opportunity to maximize the drama. Why speak quietly when you can shout? Why quietly acquiesce to misfortune when you can lash out? Why jab a finger when you can throw a punch? Why throw a punch when you can engage in a high-speed shootout? Why a soft kiss and not a sizzling romp in bed? Turn. Up. The. Heat. And then, when you’ve turned up the heat as high as you can—turn it up higher.

Beautiful prose is great, descriptive passages are wonderful—as long as the reader’s heartbeat doesn’t slow down. It can be done, but it’s not as easy as it may sound.

Every single one of his famously short chapters has an exclamation point to it. It’s wickedly funny. It’s scary as hell. It’s thrilling. It’s heartbreaking. Whatever—it’s something with a punch. Always an exclamation point. No chapter is ever boring. The chapters are not short for the mere sake of being short. They’re short because it forces the writer to pack that punch. And then, before the reader has a chance to recover, there’s another punch when they turn the page. It’s a means to the end of keeping the reader invested in the story.

I am completing another thriller with Jim, but I’m continuing to write my own novels, too. And a funny thing happened along the way as I wrote THE WRONG MAN, the third novel in my Jason Kolarich series, which is out June 28. I’ve started asking myself, What would Jim say? How would he handle this?

It doesn’t mean I’m copying Jim’s style. But he’s in my head. And there are a lot worse things to have floating around your noggin than the influence of the top-selling author in the world.

Comments

Great stuff. This will be the first book I download on my new iPad. It’s great to see how you’ve “graduated” from drinking beers at the Beta house to collaborating with James Patterson. You’ve definitely upgraded your company!

I’m happy to see you’ve been such a success with both your legal and writing careers. Grambo, Carl Dzuik and I look forward to seeing you in Seattle with some upcoming book tour.

I am a high school teacher in the North of Western Australia. I teach a very diverse group of Year 10s. For example, 10 out of my 16 regular attenders are indigenous, and the ability range varies from students who can write a 1+1/2 page essay in an hour, down to students who can write maybe 8 dot points in the same time, if they’re having a good day. I stumbled across David’s story “The Shining Knight’, really enjoyed it and decided to try it out with my class. We went to a computer room to read it and an amazing thing happened. Four indigenous boys sat around one computer together and took turns reading it out for the whole period. One of those boys has hardly been to school for two years and he still took his turn reading! I wasn’t even sure if he was able to read. Another boy in the group has really been going ‘off track’ this year, and he took his turn too, showing me he was a stronger reader than I knew in the process. They smirked, sniggered and tittered at the appropriate points in the story, because they were really engaged. I would really like David Ellis to know that his story had such a positive impact on my class, particularly those boys. Getting kids reading is so important. I’m going to order a couple of David’s books, and once I’ve read them, I’m going to ask my manager to buy a class set of at least one of them.

Cherie,
I just had to say thank you for sharing the great story! I have a 15 year old who doesn’t share his mom’s passion for reading – one of his teacher’s found a book that just really caught his attention and now he’s off and running, just finishing the first book in The Hunger Game trilogy.
I cannot express as a parent how beautiful it is to have a caring teacher find a way to “turn the light on” as you have done for your students, and as my son’s teacher has done for him.
Thank you for your teaching gift to our world!
Laura

Great post! As a new writer, and a HUGE Patterson fan, I can not imagine how exciting that was for you. I just started reading Guilty Wives and love it so far. I will also be picking up a David Ellis book to read.

Also, it is so nice to read your nice comments about him. It sounds like he is exactly like I expected him to be. I get tired of the negative comments so thank you!

Referred here by James Patterson post on FB. Great article, will definitely request this book at library and will look for your other books, as well. I’m a voracious reader and I’m always looking for new authors to check out. A James Patterson referral is no small thing, so I know you must be good!

Great post and very helpful! I love writing and I’m in the process of taking the self-publishing route. You really captured my attention when you said, “Readers want to go on a ride, so take them on one.”

Dear Mr. Ellis, I am a great fan of James Patterson. I have read almost everything he has written. I just finished Guilty Wives, and I must say, I think its one of my favorite all time Patterson books! Sir, for whatever part you played in the birth of this book, “Bravo”……its wonderful. Can’t wait to read some of your stuff now, and I look forward to your next collaboration with Mr. Patterson.. Continued success to you.

I love James Patterson, his books are always exciting and great reads. His short chapters make for quick and tense reading. I believe that after reading this blog, I will have to get my hands on some David Ellis novels. This blog was entertaining and informative. Thank you both for making reading fun, I love to read.

Thank you for telling us about James Paterson. I love his writing style. His books do take you on a ride and I love that feeling of “I cant wait to read it” anxiety. Sometimes when I’m reading his book, I think, something is wrong with me for loving his books and something is wrong with him for writing them because some stories are to the extreme. But its just a story and he helps you escape from the mundane.

I am glad to hear that he is a good person and helps others. God bless him for being him and God bless you for sharing him with his fans.

I think Jim likes to work with authors with different styles to keep his novels fresh and interesting. I’ve never directly asked him the question but I do know that, with so many books under his belt, he wants to make sure that he’s continuing to write new and exciting stuff. For me, the answer is easy: I got the chance to write with James Patterson!

I will be honest – I have not read any of your books, but I am an avid James Patterson fan. However, after reading this wonderful blog about, quite honestly, the Master – I will most definitely pick up one of your books. Thank you for a wonderful collaboration with James Patterson. All the best on any future solo books, as well as books with Mr. Patterson.

I was referred here by James Patterson’s facebook link, and I have to admit that I liked your comments as to his help and ego boosting, (not meant in a snide way), realizing that when working with someone like him a writer would be feeling pretty inadequate. It is always interesting to get a different perspective on doing anything, but in a book, it makes it even more interesting because what one person does constantly can become, if not boring, then expected. This way the other writer can spice the areas up that the first one has written so many times, he just continues the same way as always, but with your input, that area now has a new twist and outlook. Makes for some interesting reading.
Of course, with James Patterson, it usually is. I wish he would write some more of his girl group with Lindsay. Also, my other favorite, Max. (Even if I am 62, I still love those books. After I get done with them I give them to my granddaughter, Jill-Marie, who collects them.

David,
You’ve been writing novels since 2000 or 2002? and I just found you, thanks to J. Patterson.
I’ve read all of his novels along with many, many others but this one just blew me away. I
immediatly researched your name and was delighted to find you have written several novels
of your own. So far I’ve read three, the last one was your first “Line of Vision”. I might add that
I lost a lot of sleep because of it. And, just ask me if I couldn’t lay it down? Jes.
I’m trying to space myself because I can’t stand not having another one of your books just waiting to be read. Keep it up David, you write thrilling books and I’m excited for your success. You deserve all of it.
Barbara Pope (age 81 and still kicking)

HI Mr. Ellis,
I look forward to reading your collaboration with J. Patterson. I’ve read Breach of Trust and Life Sentence. Currently reading Jury of One. All 3 are Outstanding! I practice criminal law in Cook County, and I can vouch for your court scenes ringing very true. Your books are wonderfully fast-paced and well-written. Bravo! I’m glad that there are several more for me to get to. You books are better than Turow, and right up there with Grisham and Martini.
Thanks very much for sharing your talent. I hope to eventually get to writing the book I’ve wanted to for 15 years. You are an inspiration.
Dan

David, have read all nine of your books, plus everything that James Patterson has written for adults. So, my question is this: when are you coming out with your next book? I have enjoyed each one thoroughly.